Ahh... it's so warm here that I wanted to spend all day outside to recover from winter. Alas I have other responsibilities... namely homework. This week is going to be hectic for me, and a little stressful. Lucky for you guys the next chapter is already finished and LONG. Be happy! Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviews, it totally makes my day when I get review notices and +favorite notices. Review if you want though, as you see I update no matter, but it does make me happy!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Chapter 28: Arrival
Inara had been to France many times before, a surprising amount of activity stemmed out of Paris and some port cities, so she was well familiar with the Parisian scene. Rouen though, she had never been to, nor did she have any idea where she was once they stepped off of the train. They had spent a whole night and day on the train, arriving in Rouen around midnight. Dracula stepped off the train confidently, looking around the station carefully.
"Much has changed since I last walked here," he muttered, looking in the distance at a cathedral. "That use to be the tallest structure in the world..."
"Yeah... well things change," Inara said quietly, stepping off the train with uncertainty.
"More has changed than is apparent, I assure you," a voice from the shadows offered, causing Inara to back against the train. She was defenseless, her best option would be to run, but to where? Dracula would certainly catch her in such unfamiliar surroundings, and so would her attacker. She knew of a safe spot for Knights that was close to Rouen, but there was no way she would make it, having only stayed in the house once during her training. Dracula moved closer to the shadows, and from them emerged an elegantly dressed man. Wearing the well tailored suit of a man in the late nineteenth century, his blood red waist coat was hard to distinguish from his black over coat. A black cravat was snug against his throat, and had it been closer to the time, Inara would have assumed he was going to a Carnival festival. His skin was pale white, and his dark blonde hair was cut short, only a few bangs occasionally falling over his face. His golden eyes moved from Dracula to Inara, and then back to the undead creature who had not halted his approach of the figure.
"We've been expecting you for some time now, I must admit that we were become anxious for your arrival," the man bowed his head slightly, a sign of submission that Inara watch Dracula acknowledge, allowing the man to straighten himself.
"Séraphin..."
"My Lord," the man bowed again. "I am glad your memory is still as sharp as it was before... that incident."
"Where are they others?"
"At the House, My Lord. They sent me to fetch you from the train."
"The youngest of my children... they still send you on these lower jobs?"
"Unfortunately my class still falls short in their eyes. But come, the night is young, and my brothers and sisters are eager to see you once again." Dracula chuckled, stopping in front of the vampire, Inara still stood by the stopped train, listening intently with a little bit of surprise. Children? Is that what Dracula called the people he turned? Who were the others? "Who is your companion?" Inara didn't even notice the change in subject until the vampire was next to her. She was soon looking into his golden eyes, and she could feel his cold hand taking hers. He raised the hand to his lips, and very old fashion he kissed it gently, his eyes never breaking their contact with her own. "She is a lovely little blossom... tell me your name." Inara felt a haze start to fill her mind, but immediately she beat it back, shaking her head to rid herself of that fog. The vampire, Séraphin, blinked a few times, but did not look away.
"She is..."
"I am Inara Van Helsing," she responded, pulling her hand away from the vampire. "And I am not his companion."
The a moment the vampire hesitated, taking a few steps back from Inara. The mortal looked at him in confusion, why was he hesitating? The vampire just looked at her closely before he finally seemed to relax. "...Feisty for a mortal..." he chuckled, looking back at Dracula. "I can see why she caught your eye... she does have some qualities." Inara stepped away as disgust flashed across her face, and her hands balled into fists, ready to punch Séraphin for his comment.
"She is not for you, Séraphin," Dracula growled.
"I know my Lord, I would never dream of trying to steal her from you. I know my place, and you know it's not me that you need to worry about," the vampire smiled at Inara before turning back to his Master. "Shall we? I believe Anwen is particularly excited to see you." Dracula watched the vampire for a few close minutes, watching as he walked off the train platform, the lights of a limousine blinked close by. Dracula held his hand out to Inara, beckoning her to come as he turned back to the underling.
"She never did have patience..."
"That's what you get from British women," Séraphin chuckled.
